System and method of aquiring blood-vessel data

ABSTRACT

A system and method is provided for substantially synchronizing the acquisition of blood-vessel data to an identifiable portion of heartbeat data. Specifically, a data-gathering device is adapted to acquire heartbeat data and blood-vessel data from a heart-monitoring device and a data-gathering probe, respectively. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the blood-vessel data is acquired during a cyclical portion of the heartbeat data. By identifying a cyclical (or commonly reoccurring) portion of the heartbeat data and acquiring blood-vessel data during this cyclical portion (or during an interval that substantially corresponds thereto), the blood vessel can be analyzed as if it were standing still—i.e., not expanding and relaxing. In one embodiment of the present invention, the heart-monitoring device includes an EKG device, the data-gathering device includes an intra-vascular ultrasound (IVUS) device and a computing device, and the data-gathering probe includes at least one transducer. In another embodiment of the present invention, the data-gathering system further includes a retraction device adapted to move the data-gathering probe though a blood vessel at a substantially steady speed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(e) ofU.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 60/406,183, filed Aug. 26,2002, 60/406,254, filed Aug. 26, 2002, 60/406,148, filed Aug. 26, 2002,60/406,184, filed Aug. 26, 2002, 60/406,185, filed Aug. 26, 2002, and60/406,234, filed Aug. 26, 2002, all of which are incorporated herein,in their entirety, by reference. This application is a continuationapplication of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/647,977, the entirecontents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to acquiring blood-vessel data, or moreparticularly, to a system and method of substantially synchronizing theacquisition of blood-vessel data to an identifiable portion of heartbeatdata.

2. Description of Related Art

Blood-vessel data (e.g., data that can be used to identify the shape ofa blood vessel, its density, its composition, etc.) can provide usefulinformation in the diagnoses and/or treatment of a patient. For example,intra-vascular ultrasound (IVUS) devices use blood-vessel data toreproduce or image a blood vessel. Specifically, a transducer isattached to a distal end of a catheter and electrically connected to anIVUS device. The transducer is then placed inside a particular bloodvessel and used to transmit acoustic signals. The reflections of thesesignals are then received by the transducer, converted into electricalsignals, and transmitted to the IVUS device. The electrical signals arethen used to create an image of the blood vessel (or a portion thereof).

Blood vessels, however, are continuously expanding and relaxing inresponse to blood being pumped there through. Thus, by continuouslygathering blood-vessel data, a blood vessel, as it expands and relaxes,can be imaged. If, however, the blood vessel needs to be monitored in aparticular position (e.g., to image the blood vessel as if it werestanding sill—i.e., not expanding and relaxing), it may be necessary toacquire the blood-vessel data when the blood vessel's shape issubstantially uniform (i.e., when the blood vessel is in a particularposition).

The traditional method of doing this (at least with respect to an IVUSdevice) is to gather both blood-vessel and heartbeat data (e.g., EKGdata), use the blood-vessel data to generate real-time images (i.e.,video of the expanding and contracting blood vessel), record theseimages onto a VHS tape, and use a computer and the heartbeat data toextract relevant frames from the VHS tape. The heartbeat data is used bythe computer because the rhythm of the heart is related to the expansionand contraction of the blood vessels. Thus, by extracting the framesrecorded during an identifiable period in the heart's cycle, the bloodvessel can be monitored as if it were standing still—i.e., not expandingand contracting.

The drawbacks of this method is that image resolution is lost when thedata is recorded onto the VHS tape. Furthermore, this method isextremely time consuming. Not only is unnecessary data (i.e., dataunrelated to the identifiable period) gathered and recorded onto the VHStape, but processing time is necessary to extract the relevant framesfrom the VHS tape. Thus, a need exists for a system and method ofacquiring blood-vessel data from a blood vessel in a particular positionthat overcomes at least one of these drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a system and method of substantiallysynchronizing the acquisition of blood-vessel data to an identifiableportion of heartbeat data. Preferred embodiments of the presentinvention operate in accordance with a heart-monitoring device, adata-gathering device, and a data-gathering probe. Specifically, adata-gathering device is adapted to acquire heartbeat data andblood-vessel data from a heart-monitoring device and a data-gatheringprobe, respectively. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention,the blood-vessel data is acquired during a cyclical portion of theheartbeat data. As previously discussed, it is the contraction andrelaxation of the heart muscles (or the blood that flows as a resultthereof) that causes the blood vessels to expand and relax. Thus, it ispossible to identify a particular position (or shape) of a blood vesselby identifying a corresponding portion of the heart's repetitive cycle.This information (i.e., the identified portion of the heartbeat data)can be used to acquire blood-vessel data (or multiple sets thereof) froma blood vessel having a substantially uniform shape. In other words, byidentifying a cyclical (or commonly reoccurring) portion of heartbeatdata and acquiring blood-vessel data during this cyclical portion (orduring an interval or time period that substantially correspondsthereto), the blood vessel can be analyzed as if it were standingstill—i.e., not expanding and relaxing.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the heart-monitoring deviceincludes an EKG device. An EGK device uses a plurality of electrodes tomeasure electrical current passing, through a patient's body. Theelectrical current corresponds to the electrical activity of thepatient's heart muscles, or the contraction and relaxation thereof. Thiscurrent (or related data) can be used to identify a cyclical portion ofthe heart's cycle, thus allowing blood-vessel data to be acquired duringintervals that substantially correspond thereto (i.e., when the bloodvessel is in a substantially uniform position).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the data-gatheringdevice includes an intra-vascular ultrasound (IVUS) device and acomputing device. In this embodiment, the IVUS device is adapted toreceive blood-vessel data from the data-gathering probe (eithercontinuously or during intervals that substantially correspond tocyclical periods of heartbeat data). The blood-vessel data (or dataresulting therefrom) is then acquired by the computing device (e.g.,received and/or stored) during intervals that substantially correspondto cyclical periods of heartbeat data.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the data-gatheringdevice includes an IVUS device or a computing device. In thisembodiment, blood-vessel data is received and/or stored by thedata-gathering device during intervals that substantially correspond tocyclical portions of heartbeat data.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the data-gathering probeincludes at least one transducer attached to a distal end of a catheter,where the catheter further includes a data-transmission circuit fortransmitting (and receiving) electrical signals to (or from) thetransducer(s). In this embodiment, the transducer is placed inside ablood vessel and used to gather blood-vessel data by transmitting andreceiving acoustic waves.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the data-gatheringsystem further includes a retraction device. Specifically, theretraction device is attached to the data-gathering probe and used tomove the probe though a blood vessel. In one embodiment of the presentinvention, the retraction device is further adapted to move the probethrough the blood vessel at a substantially steady speed.

A more complete understanding of the system and method of substantiallysynchronizing the acquisition of blood-vessel data to an identifiableportion of heartbeat data will be afforded to those skilled in the art,as well as a realization of additional advantages and objects thereof,by a consideration of the following detailed description of thepreferred embodiment. Reference will be made to the appended sheets ofdrawings which will first be described briefly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a data-gathering system that substantiallysynchronizes the acquisition of blood-vessel data to an identifiableportion of heartbeat data.

FIG. 1A illustrates an interval (T1) that substantially corresponds toan exemplary cyclical portion of heartbeat data (e.g., EKG data).

FIG. 2 further illustrates the data-gathering device depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a data-gathering probe including a plurality oftransducer and located within a blood vessel.

FIG. 4 illustrates a catheter having a data-transmission circuit and atransducer attached thereto, said transducer being adapted for rotation.

FIG. 5 illustrates a catheter having a data-transmission circuit and aplurality of transducers attached thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention provides a system and method of substantiallysynchronizing the acquisition of blood-vessel data to an identifiableportion of heartbeat data. In the detailed description that follows,like element numerals are used to describe like elements illustrated inone or more figures.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention operate in accordancewith a heart-monitoring device, a data-gathering device, and adata-gathering probe. FIG. 1 illustrates, a data-gathering system 10 inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In thisembodiment, a data-gathering device 110 is electrically connected to aheart-monitoring device 130, which is attached to a patient 150 via atleast one heart-monitoring probe 132. The heart-monitoring device 130 itused to gather heartbeat data (e.g., data related to the contractionand/or relaxation of the heart muscles, data related to the volumeand/or pressure of blood flowing as a result thereof, etc.) from thepatient 150. This heartbeat data is then provided to (or acquired by)the data-gathering device 110. It should be appreciated that thedata-gathering device depicted in FIG. 1 includes, but is not limitedto, ultrasonic devices (e.g., an intra-vascular ultrasound (IVUS)console), thermographic devices, optical devices (e.g., an opticalcoherence tomography (OCT) console), MRI devices, computing devices(e.g., a personal computer, a general purpose computing device, anapplication specific computing device, etc.), and/or any other datagathering devices (including combinations thereof) that are generallyknown to those skilled in the art. It should further be appreciated thatthe heart-monitoring device depicted in FIG. 1 includes, but is notlimited to, electrocardiograph (EKG) devices, pressure-monitoringdevices, or any other heart monitoring device that is generally known tothose skilled in the art and can be used to monitor the heart's cycle(or data related thereto—e.g., pressure levels, electrical signals,etc.).

The data-gathering device 110 is further electrically connected to adata-gathering probe 140, which is inserted into a blood vessel (notshown) of the patient 150. The data-gathering probe 140 is used togather blood-vessel data (e.g., data that can be used to identify theshape of a blood vessel, its density, its composition, etc.). This data(or data related thereto) is then provided to (or acquired by) thedata-gathering device 110. It should be appreciated that thedata-gathering probe includes, but is not limited to, at least onetransducer or any other reception device that is generally known tothose skilled in the art. Thus, for example, the use of any receptiondevice adapted to acquire data (e.g., reflected data, etc.), regardlessof whether the data is thermal, optical, acoustical, electrical, etc.,is within the spirit and scope of the present invention. It shouldfurther be appreciated that the number and/or location of componentsdepicted in FIG. 1 are not intended to limit the present invention, butare merely provided to illustrate the environment in which the presentinvention operates. Thus, for example, a data-gathering system includingmultiple data-gathering devices, multiple data-gathering probes, and/oradditional or fewer components is within the spirit and scope of thepresent invention.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the blood-vesseldata is acquired during a cyclical portion of the heartbeat data. Aspreviously discussed, it is the contraction and relaxation of the heartmuscles (or the blood that flows as a result thereof) that causes theblood vessels to expand and relax. Thus, it is possible to identify aparticular position (or shape) of a blood vessel by identifying acorresponding portion of the heart's repetitive cycle. This information(i.e., the identified portion of the heartbeat data) can be used toacquire blood-vessel data (or multiple sets thereof) from a blood vesselhaving a substantially uniform shape. In other words, by identifying acyclical (or commonly reoccurring) portion of heartbeat data andacquiring blood-vessel data during this cyclical portion (or during aninterval or time period that substantially corresponds thereto), theblood vessel can be analyzed as if it were standing still—i.e., notexpanding and relaxing. It should be appreciated that the term “acquire”(or any variation thereof), as that term is used herein, should beconstrued broadly to include the reception and/or storage of data. Thus,for example, a data-gathering device (or a portion thereof) adapted toreceive and/or store blood-vessel data (or data related thereto) duringa cyclical portion of the heartbeat data is within the spirit and scopeof the present invention.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the heart-monitoring deviceincludes an EKG device. An EKG device uses a plurality of electrodes tomeasure electrical current passing through a patient's body. Theelectrical current corresponds to the electrical activity of thepatient's heart muscles, or the contraction and relaxation thereof. Byplotting or imaging this current, the heart's rhythm (or cycles) can beobserved. An example of such an image (i.e., multiple sets of heartbeatdata) is illustrated in FIG. 1A. Specifically, each heart cycle includesa P wave, a T wave, and points Q, R and S. These identifiable portionsmake it possible to identify a cyclical (or commonly reoccurring)portion of the heart's cycle (or heartbeat data).

For example, the portion between the end of the T wave and the beginningof the P wave can be identified as a cyclical portion of heartbeat datahaving a corresponding interval T1. This portion, or more particular itsinterval T1, can be used to acquire blood-vessel data from a uniformlyshaped blood vessel. This is because the interval T1 (which reoccursperiodically) substantially corresponds to the identified cyclicalportion, which substantially corresponds to a blood vessel having aparticular shape or position. It should be appreciated that, while itmay be advantageous to identify certain cyclical portions of heartbeatdata, the present invention is not limited to the identification of anyparticular cyclical portion. It should further be appreciated that theterm “portion” (or any variation thereof), as that term is used herein,should be construed broadly to include both segments and points ofheartbeat data. Furthermore, it should also be appreciated that theterms “interval” and “time period” (or any variations thereof), as theseterms are used herein, should be construed broadly to include bothpassages of time and points in time. Thus, for example, identifying thepoint “Q” as a cyclical portion of heartbeat data, which has acorresponding interval, or a corresponding point in time (as opposed toa passage of time), is within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the data-gathering deviceincludes both an IVUS device and a computing device. Specifically, asshown in FIG. 2, the data-gathering device 110 includes an IVUS device212 electrically connected to the data-gathering probe 140 and acomputing device 214 electrically connected to the heart-monitoringdevice 130. Thus, the computing device 214 is adapted to acquire (viathe IVUS device 212) blood-vessel data (or data related thereto) duringintervals that correspond to cyclical portions of heartbeat data. Itshould be appreciated that the phrase “blood-vessel data,” as thatphrase is used herein, is to be construed broadly and includes theblood-vessel data gathered by the data-gathering probe and anyblood-vessel data related thereto or created therefrom (e.g., asprocessed by the IVUS device). It should further be appreciated that, inthis embodiment, it is the computing device 214 that is adapted toacquire blood-vessel data during intervals that correspond to cyclicalportions of heartbeat data. Thus, while the IVUS device may also beadapted to acquire blood-vessel data during these intervals, an IVUSdevice adapted to continuously receive heartbeat data is within thespirit and scope of the present invention.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the data-gathering probeincludes at least one transducer. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, aplurality of transducers 344 a, 344 b, are attached to a distal end of acatheter 342 having a data-transmission circuit located therein (notshown). In this embodiment, the transducers 344 a, 344 b are placedinside a blood vessel 352 of the patient 150 and used to gatherblood-vessel data. Specifically, each transducer is adapted to (i)convert electrical signals into acoustic waves, (ii) transmit theacoustic waves, (iii) receive any reflections thereof, and (iv) convertthe reflections into electrical signals. In this embodiment, theelectrical signals are propagated over (i.e., received from andtransmitted over) the data-transmission circuit (not shown).

In another embodiment of the present the transducer is further adaptedto rotate. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, a transducer 344 isattached to the distal end of a catheter 342 having a data-transmissioncircuit 442. In this embodiment of the present invention, the transducer344 is adapted to rotate around the catheter 342 and receiveblood-vessel data from a variety of angular positions, or rotationalorientations. In one embodiment of the present invention, the transduceris adapted to start at a particular rotational orientation and rotate(and acquire blood-vessel data) in response (either directly orindirectly) to the transmission of probe-triggering data (e.g., by thedata-gathering device). Such an embodiment allows the data-gatheringdevice to be synchronized with the rotational orientation of thetransducer.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the transducer isadapted to continuously rotate and continuously gather blood-vesseldata. In this embodiment, the data-gathering device may be adapted toidentify at least one rotational orientation of the transducer (e.g., astarting rotational orientation). This is because the data-gatheringdevice needs to understand the rotational orientation of theblood-vessel data being acquired. One method of doing this is to startacquiring data when the transducer is in a known rotational orientation(e.g., a starting rotational orientation). Thus, for example, if thetransducer is adapted to rotate to two-hundred and fifty-six positionsper cycle, and the transducer is continuously rotating and acquiringdata, then the data-gathering device may be adapted to identify when thetransducer is rotationally oriented in its “starting position,” andgather the next two-hundred and fifty-six items of blood-vessel data.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a plurality oftransducers are located around a catheter. Specifically, as shown inFIG. 5, a plurality of transducers (e.g., 344 a, 344 b, 344 c, etc.) arecircumferentially spaced around the distal end of a catheter 342. Thisallows multiple items of blood-vessel data to be transmitted via thedata-transmission circuit 442 (either serially or in parallel). Itfurther eliminates the need for each transducer to rotate. It should beappreciated that the number of transducers depicted in FIG. 5 is notintended to limit the present invention, but is merely provided toidentify the environment in which the present invention may operate.Thus, a data-gathering probe having more or less transducers is withinthe spirit and scope of the present invention.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the data-gatheringsystem further includes a retraction device. Specifically, as shown inFIG. 1, a retraction device 120 is attached to the data-gathering device110 and adapted to move the data-gathering probe 140 though the bloodvessel. It should be appreciated that the data-gathering probe 140,which is physically connected to the retraction device, may beelectrically connected to the data-gathering device 110 either directly(not shown) or indirectly (e.g., via the retraction device 120).

In one embodiment of the present invention, the retraction device 120 isfurther adapted to move the data-gathering probe 140 through the bloodvessel at a substantially stead speed. This allows, for example, thedata-gathering device 110 to image a blood vessel section (either intwo-dimensional or three-dimensional form). Specifically, by acquiringblood-vessel data during intervals that correspond to cyclical portionsof heartbeat data and knowing the linear rate at which this data isbeing acquired (e.g., by providing the speed to, or receiving it from,the data-gathering device), the blood vessel can effectively berecreated or imaged.

It should be appreciated that blood-vessel data can be used in a numberof application including, but not limited to, diagnosing and/or treatingpatients. For example, blood-vessel data can be used to identify and/orimage blood vessel boarders or boundaries, as provided by U.S.Provisional Application Nos., 60/406,184, 60/406,234 and 60/406,185, allof which were filed Aug. 26, 2002, and by U.S. Pat. No. 6,381,350, whichissued Apr. 30, 2002, and are incorporated herein, in their entirety, byreference. Another use for blood-vessel data is for classifying and/orimaging vascular plaque, as provided by U.S. Provisional ApplicationNos., 60/406,254 and 60/406,148, which were filed Aug. 26, 2002, and byU.S. Pat. No. 6,200,268, which issued Mar. 13, 2001, and areincorporated herein, in their entirety, by reference.

Having thus described a preferred embodiment of a system and method ofsubstantially synchronizing the acquisition of blood-vessel data to anidentifiable portion of heartbeat data, it should be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that certain advantages of the system have beenachieved. It should also be appreciated that various modifications,adaptations, and alternative embodiments thereof may be made within thescope and spirit of the present invention. For example, a computingdevice could be adapted to receive blood-vessel data directly from adata-gathering probe (as oppose to receiving it via an IVUS device). Theinvention is further defined by the following claims.

1. A system for acquiring blood-vessel data, comprising: adata-gathering probe adapted to acquire blood-vessel data; aheart-monitoring device adapted to acquire heartbeat data; and adata-gathering device connected to said data-gathering probe and saidheart-monitoring device and adapted to: acquire said heartbeat data;identify a cyclical portion of said heartbeat data, said cyclicalportion being substantially common to multiple sets of heartbeat data;and acquire said blood-vessel data during an interval substantiallycorresponding to said cyclical portion of said heartbeat data.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1, further comprising a retraction device adapted tomove said data-gathering probe through a blood vessel.
 3. The system ofclaim 1, further comprising a catheter, said data-gathering probe beingattached to a distal end of said catheter.
 4. The system of claim 3,wherein said data-gathering probe comprises a plurality of transducersspaced circumferentially around said distal end of said catheter andadapted to receive at least said blood-vessel data.
 5. The system ofclaim 3, wherein said data-gathering probe further comprises at leastone transducer adapted to rotate and receive at least said blood-vesseldata.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein said heart-monitoring devicecomprises an electrocardiograph (EKG) device.
 7. The system of claim 1,wherein said data-gathering device comprises a programmable computingdevice.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein said data-gathering devicecomprises an intra-vascular ultrasound (IVUS) device.
 9. The system ofclaim 7, wherein said data-gathering device further comprises anintra-vascular ultrasound (IVUS) device.
 10. The system of claim 5,wherein said data-gathering device is further adapted to start acquiringsaid blood-vessel data when said at least one transducer is rotationallyoriented in a predetermined position.
 11. A system for acquiringblood-vessel data, comprising: a computing device adapted to beelectrically connected to a data-gathering probe and a heart-monitoringdevice; and computer code operating on said computing device, saidcomputer code being adapted to: acquire heartbeat data from saidheart-monitoring device; and acquire blood-vessel data during aninterval substantially corresponding to a cyclical portion of saidheartbeat data, said cyclical portion being a commonly reoccurringportion of said heartbeat data.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein saidcomputing device is further adapted to be electrically connected to saiddata-gathering probe via an intra-vascular ultrasound (IVUS) device. 13.The system of claim 11, wherein said computing device is further adaptedto be electrically connected to a catheter having at least onetransducer via an intra-vascular device.
 14. The system of Clam 11,wherein said computing device is further adapted to be electricallyconnected to an electrocardiograph (EKG).
 15. The system of claim 13,wherein said computing device is further adapted to be electricallyconnected to a retraction device via said intra-vascular device, saidretraction device being adapted to move said at least one transducerthrough a blood vessel.
 16. The system of claim 11, wherein saidcomputer code is further adapted to transmit probe-triggering dataduring said interval, said probe-triggering data signifying a desire toacquire said blood-vessel data from said data-gathering probe.
 17. Thesystem of claim 11, wherein said computer code is further adapted toidentify a rotational orientation of at least one transducer, saiddata-gathering device comprising said at least one transducer.
 18. Thesystem of claim 15, wherein said computer code is further adapted toidentify a speed at which said retraction device is moving said at leastone transducer probe through said blood-vessel.
 19. A method ofacquiring blood-vessel data from a patient, comprising: inserting adata-gathering probe into a blood vessel of a patient; electricallyconnecting said data-gathering probe to a data-gathering device;attaching at least one heart-monitoring device to said patient;electrically connecting said at least one heart-monitoring device tosaid data-gathering device; acquiring heartbeat data from said at leastone heart-monitoring device; identifying a cyclical portion of saidheartbeat data that is substantially common to more than one set ofheartbeat data; and acquiring blood-vessel data from said data-gatheringprobe during a time period that substantially corresponds to saidcyclical portion of said heartbeat data.
 20. The method of claim 19,further comprising the step of moving said data-gathering probe throughsaid blood vessel at a substantially steady speed.
 21. The method ofclaim 19, wherein said step of inserting a data-gathering probe into ablood vessel further comprises inserting a catheter into said bloodvessel
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein said step of electricallyconnecting said data-gathering probe to a data-gathering device furthercomprises electrically connecting said catheter to an intra-vascularultrasound (IVUS) device.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein said stepof attaching at least one heart-monitoring device further comprisesattaching an electrocardiograph (EKG) device to said patient.
 24. Themethod of claim 23, wherein said step of electrically connecting said atleast one heart-monitoring device to said data-gathering device furthercomprises electrically connecting said EKG device to a computing deviceelectrically connected to said IVUS device.
 25. The method of claim 19,wherein said step of acquiring blood-vessel data further comprisesreceiving blood-vessel data from said data-gathering probe during saidinterval.
 26. The method of claim 19, wherein said step of acquiringblood-vessel data further comprises continuously receiving blood-vesseldata from said data-gathering probe and storing said blood-vessel dataduring said interval.
 27. The method of claim 19, wherein said step ofacquiring blood-vessel data further comprises transmitting probe-triggerdata at the beginning of said interval and receiving blood-vessel datafrom said data-gathering probe in response thereto.
 28. The method ofclaim 19, further comprising the step of rotating at least a portion ofsaid data-gathering probe during the acquisition of said blood-vesseldata.
 29. The method of claim 28, wherein said step of acquiringblood-vessel data further comprises transmitting probe-triggering dataat the beginning of said interval and receiving blood-vessel data fromsaid data-gathering probe in response thereto.
 30. The method of claim28, wherein said step of acquiring blood-vessel data further comprisesacquiring blood-vessel data during said interval and when said at leasta portion of said data-gathering probe is rotationally oriented in apredetermined position.
 31. A method of acquiring blood-vessel data,comprising; inserting a data-gathering probe into a blood vessel of apatient; electrically connecting said data-gathering probe to adata-gathering device; attaching at least one heart-monitoring device tosaid patient; electrically connecting said at least one heart-monitoringdevice to said data-gathering device; acquiring multiple sets ofheartbeat data from said at least one heart-monitoring device;identifying cyclical portions of said multiple sets of heartbeat data;substantially synchronizing the acquisition of multiple sets ofblood-vessel data to cyclical portions of said multiple sets ofheartbeat data.
 32. The method of claim 31, wherein said step ofinserting a data-gathering probe further comprises inserting a catheterhaving at least one transducer into said blood vessel of said patient.33. The method of claim 31, wherein said step of electrically connectingsaid data-gathering probe to a data-gathering device further compriseselectrically connecting a catheter having at least one transducer to anintra vascular ultrasound (IVUS) device.
 34. The method of claim 31,wherein said step of electrically connecting said at least oneheart-monitoring device to said data-gathering device further compriseselectrically connecting at least one electrocardiograph (EKG) to acomputing device, said computing device further being electricallyconnected to an intra-vascular ultrasound (IVUS) device.
 35. The methodof claim 32, further comprising the step of identifying a rotationalorientation of said at least one transducer.
 36. The method of claim 35,wherein said step of substantially synchronizing the acquisition ofmultiple sets of blood-vessel data to cyclical portions of said multiplesets of heartbeat data further comprises commencing the acquisition ofeach set of blood-vessel data when said transducer is rotationallyoriented in a particular position.
 37. The method of claim 31, furthercomprising tracking the movement of said data-gathering probe throughsaid blood vessel.
 38. The method of claim 37, wherein said step oftracking the movement of said data-gathering probe further compriseselectrically connecting said data-gathering device to a retractiondevice adapted to move said data-gathering probe through saidblood-vessel at a substantially steady speed.
 39. A method for gatedacquisition of intra-vascular ultrasound (IVUS) data, comprising thesteps of: monitoring a physiological signal of a patient, where thephysiological signal correlates with the cardiac cycle; advancing anIVUS catheter to a region of interest within a coronary artery;initiating a pullback of the catheter, and acquiring data when thecatheter reaches a particular point in the cardiac cycle.
 40. The methodof claim 39, wherein said IVUS catheter further comprises a rotatingtransducer.
 41. The method of claim 39, wherein said IVUS catheterfurther comprises an array of transducers.